Meet the Guides

We have assembled a team of professional whitewater guides who we believe are true international “superstars” in the world of whitewater. All these guides have extensive experience with river safety protocols, swiftwater river rescue, mountain awareness, high altitude safety, CPR and first aid. From camp hygiene to boat repair and transportation logistics, they’ve got you covered from the moment your trip begins. All the guides have extensive knowledge of the Southwest and they are always happy to share their wildlife, geologic, cultural and environmental insights with you. They guide because they love to share the pleasures of discovery, exploration, and adventure. All of our team members at 4 Corners Whitewater, are incredibly skilled, appropriately diplomatic, calm under pressure, confident yet humble, charming and entertaining, and totally committed to combining their passion with their profession.

Matt Wilson

Owner/Guide/Safety Kayaker

Matt, originally from Park City, Utah began his professional guiding career in 1995 for Holiday River Expeditions on the classic alpine rivers of central Idaho. After spending three seasons as a kayak/raft guide on the Rio Futaluefu in the Patagonia region of Chile, Matt returned to college, graduating with a B.A. in Modern Languages. Since then Matt has pursued a career of swiftwater instructor, river guide and ski patroller. As owner of 4 Corners Whitewater he feels the canyon’s of the San Juan Mountains are the ideal place to share his love for rivers. Matt’s passion is expedition paddling which has lead him around the world in search of first descents from Russia to Madagascar. Recently Matt was named as one of Outside Magazines New Kings of Adventure. Matt also enjoys skiing, mountain biking, and coffee.

Drew Beezley

Owner/Guide/Safety Kayaker

Drew grew up canoeing and kayaking on the scenic rivers of Missouri and Arkansas. He began raft guiding in the spring of 2000 on the Arkansas River in central Colorado. Since then he has worked as the Paddle School Director for 4Corners Riversports. Drew spends as much time as he can kayaking down the magical river gorges of Southern Colorado. He and his wife Erin live in Durango, together they also enjoy mountain biking, skiing, and just being outside.

Teal Lehto

Guide/Office Manager

Teal is a Durango local, and studies Environmental Policy at Fort Lewis College during the school year. Teal has been selling rafting trips since she was 14, but finished her commercial guide school in the summer of 2016 and has been escaping the office to guide ever since. During the winter months she is a lifty and a snowboard instructor, but during the summer months she basically lives on the Animas river. She is the captain of The San Juan Sirens, the 2017-18 US U23 Women’s Raft-Racing team, and on most summer afternoons you can find them paddling upstream from the 32nd St. put-in for conditioning or messing around with the slalom gates at the whitewater park. Teal loves burritos, puppies and color coordination.

Sierra Jeffers

Guide

Sierra grew up along the coast of Maine. She headed West to pursue a college degree as well as for Colorado's legendary skiing! Sierra graduated from Fort Lewis College in 2016 with a degree in Adventure Education. She has spent time guiding on the Lower Animas, Salt River, San Miguel and Upper Animas. She loves anything and everything outdoors, especially whitewater, skiing, mountain biking and season changes! Sierra has a particularly large soft spot for baking chocolate chip cookies, knitting, photography, floral patterns and traveling. She is passionate about whitewater and is excited to share the world of whitewater with others!

Josh Wilson

Driver

Josh is a former guide and dog musher from Alpine, Wyoming. He prepared for his career as a guide by receiving a psychology degree from University of Oregon (go ducks!). He has guided whitewater on the Rogue and Deschutes in Oregon, the Mendenhall in Alaska and the Snake and Shoshone in Wyoming. In addition to whitewater he has Mushed sled dogs in Juneau and Skagway Alaska and in Jackson, Wyoming. He is the current record holder of the John Beargrease sled dog race in Grand Marais, Minnesota. He is now mostly retired and drives the big blue raft bus.

Kevin “Kevvy-Poo” Diltz

Kevin was born and raised on the front range of Colorado. His love of rivers started in 2010 kayaking around Kremmling Colorado. After bouncing around Colorado doing everything from working as a ranch hand to ski-bumming, he moved to Durango in 2012. Kevin started as a bus driver for 4 Corners Whitewater before becoming a guide the next year. He has commercially guided on the upper and lower Animas, Upper Colorado, Clear Creek, and Cataract Canyon. He has kayaked and rafted countless other rivers including the world-class Vallecito Creek in Durango and the Grand Canyon of the Colorado. In his spare time he is usually kayaking, mountain biking, climbing, or skiing. He lives in Durango with his wife Emily and their dog Win.

Dana ‘Mania’ Kopf

Guide

Dana originally hails from Pennsylvania and first started guiding in the early 90’s on the Rio Grande near Taos. He has since logged over 7,500 river miles around the world including West Virginia’s Gauley River, The Rio Futaleufu in Chile, The Grand Canyon of the Colorado, and the first and only raft descent of New Mexico’s class V Embudo Creek. Dana’s favorite river is still the world class Upper Animas river right here in Durango. When not on the river, he is busy raising two little river rats, mountain biking, or skiing.

Ryan Bonomini

Guide

An inexhaustible source of energy “B-Nombs” has been guiding whitewater since 2002 on the Ocoee, Chattooga, Gauley, San Juan, and Green Rivers. Ryan joined 4 Corners whitewater on the Animas in 2010. Ryan has rafted and kayaked in Costa Rica, Ecuador and is also an outdoor instructor for Deer Hill Expeditions. In the winter you can find him ski patrolling in Telluride, CO. He is also proud to say that he is using his hard earned college degree with a B.A. in Outdoor Ed. from Ohio University!

Aaron Schenk

Guide

Aaron Schenk, originally from Eldorado Springs, CO, was fortunate to grow up in a rafting family devoted to outdoor exploration. Aaron was introduced to the sport at the age of 7, in a paddle raft on the headwaters of the Rio Grande. His river running addiction exploded after paddling an inflatable kayak down Westwater canyon on the Colorado River at age 13. Later he moved to Durango and attended Fort Lewis College, studying business management. While in college he enrolled in 4 Corners Whitewater Guide School, and there is where he found his true calling. Aaron finds nothing more fulfilling then sharing his knowledge and passion for river running with others. Aside from rafting Aaron enjoys cooking, mountain biking and running chainsaws.

Stan Prichard

Safety Kayaker

Stan is originally from Tennessee and grew up boating the rivers of the southeast. He began his paddling career at summer camp and then further developed his skills with the Baylor Schools Walkabout Program. As a student instructor he began guiding climbing, rafting, and kayaking at an early age. After high school he attended Fort Lewis College where he earned an English Degree. While in college he completed a NOLS semester in Patagonia, a season instructing for Outward Bound, and became an ACA kayak instructor. Stan is a ski patrol/guide at Silverton, Mountain in the winter. When not at work he enjoys reading, writing, and adventure travel.